In 2014, approximately 26 percent of gangsters and affiliate members were in their 40s, a decrease from the 40-percent figure in 2006. Meanwhile, one in five gangsters is over the age of 60. (For the record, the Yamaguchi-gumi’s top boss, Shinobu Tsukasa, is 73 years old.)

The report credits the recent passage of anti-gang legislation for the reduction in membership. Revisions to laws across the country have reduced the abilities of gangs to participate in money-making activities, such as extortion.

In September, 13 affiliate gangs of the Yamaguchi-gumi bolted to form a rival, the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi. The loss of allies continued thereafter. Since the split, the total number of top bosses in the Yamaguchi-gumi has fallen from 72 to 55.

Crime journalist Atsushi Mizoguchi says that things are not going to get any easier. “Young recruits are down and new ways of making money are losing steam,” he says.